Let's Rewind to December 24th 2015

David and I always talked about having two kids. I was an older sister and David was a younger brother.  All along we thought we would give Max a sibling…but  one year turned to two and then three and then all of a sudden Max is four and we were enjoying watching him grow and we were this awesome little unit of three. BUT it was decision time, now or never.
So there we were…Christmas Eve morning staring at a positive pregnancy test, once again saying to each other, “Shit- what do we do now!?” It is equal parts excitement and total fear, knowing this is what you want but the full reality of it can be completely terrifying!
YOU are bringing another life into this world!
No pressure.
…We have hosted Christmas at our house since Max was born, I love it- cooking the big meal, having all family under one roof- it reminds me of when I was much younger and all going to Nana’s. Family.

2015 was a busy year and everyone was spread out for various reasons. We ended up having a smaller group of Myself, David & Max, My Parents and David’s Parents. David and I had decided that morning how we would tell everyone our “big news” and it felt kind of perfect just being our parents and Max.

I cooked the traditional meal of beef tenderloin, yorkshire pudding,mushroom gravy and asparagus…I poured myself a nice big glass of red before sitting at the end of the table (knowing it was my last one for a while). David and I looked at Max- he had that Christmas grin that stretched past ear to ear and I said, “We have one more Christmas present for you”…

“Would you like a little brother or little sister?”

Without.skipping.a.beat.

“NO”

Once the disappointment of not getting the 87th batman figure wore off- he was very excited about the big brother role and our parents were ecstatic too.

DUE DATE: AUGUST 30TH 2016
COUNTDOWN BEGINS.

Without going into long, drawn out details (because this post is already getting lengthy) it pretty much went like…
I’m tired,I’m old,I’m sore,I hate people, we are having a girl! really a girl?! Almost done, not really, I’m old,I’m sore. I’m on top of the world, I can do this, BOOM-Wonderwoman! I’m tired, I’m old, I can do this! What were we thinking!? I’m sore, all I want to do is lay and get pedicures.

 As hoped- I went in to labor a week early (just like Max)!
Our sweet girl, Charli Pye Hedrick arrived at 5:58pm on August 23rd 2016.

What an incredible day when you feel your life is complete once that little girl arrived. We are now a family of four, an even playing field of boys against girls.
  

Meaghan

Max's Big Boy Cave

Way back when I posted this little teaser with several paint samples I purchased at Lowes. Then life got  busy and alas…I failed to post a follow up to what exactly I was using those great colors for!
Let’s rewind back to Max’s first ever room in our old house. I had so much fun decorating it and getting it ready. When we moved to our new home, I decorated it very much the same:
 

Shortly after we moved, I started planning what I wanted Max’s big boy room to be. I am not a “theme” person but I wanted to incorporate some of his favorite things like star wars and also make it a room that he could grow up with and just have to modify furniture and bedding.


Because I am a glutton for punishment, I used a quilting hexagon pattern and painstakingly traced out hexagons in two sizes, taping off each one with painters tape before tracing the next.







             this.took.a.long.time.

In the end, it was worth all the time and effort…

 

*When I was pregnant with Max I saw this image and HAD.TO.HAVE.IT.

Once I was thinking clearly, I realized if I spent that much on a bookshelf-my husband would divorce me- no matter how PERFECT it was for the nursery!

Before Max was born my very talented father in law surprised me with this handmade bookshelf and he even carved Max’s name on the bottom-it was truly perfect and holds much sentiment.

       

It’s all in the details…

star wars bookshelf prints, light switch decal, “ Gentleman Rules” print

When I needed a bedside table for Max’s new room, I sketched out what was in my head and gave it to my hubby and… voila! he created it!

Another small detail that I have to give all credit to my hubby for are the Darth Vader knobs to the bi-fold closet doors (I’m not the only one who enjoys a trip to Hobby Lobby…ehem)

Max loves his big boy room and I loved creating it for him, even though it meant letting him get older, but I guess that was inevitable!

Meaghan

Cousins

David's Aunt bought an incredible house in Lexington that needs A LOT of work, but no one is better suited for the project than Jan.

With the passing of David's grandmother a couple months ago we all went up and spent the night in Lexington . MawMaw Hedrick was 93 years old and lived a full life, she will be missed.
It was a nice time to be together, enjoy family and enjoy the munchkins. Life is precious and tends to go by a little too fast. I was trying to capture some pictures of the kids for Christmas gifts and I succeeded! I don't think anyone reads this blog so I don't mind sharing before the holiday :)

Seeing these little ones together reminds me of my childhood and the memories of all my cousins. Cousins are partners in crime at a young age- there's a special bond similar to a sibling, but they don't annoy you nearly as much...
I hope Addy, Max and Lia will always be close and I hope that even though our newest family member, Landon is further away that him and Max will be close and create these types of memories

Making Traditions

Christmas...
December in general has a different feel...
It warms your nose and brings the edges of your smile up a little further. I remember before I was even pregnant with Max- I was excited for my future "kid" -I couldn't wait for holidays and traditions....some old- some new.
Wanting your child to feel the same happiness you experienced in childhood. You think you will remember all you want to do- and the years go by faster than they feel.
The Holidays, especially go by in a blink. Still wondering where November went...

Nana always got all the grandkids advent calendars for Christmas- like clockwork Dec. 1st we had a flap to peel back and if we were lucky...there was chocolate.
Such a simple thing that meant so much when you are so young. It was a moment to look forward to... those carefree,sugarplum moments that lasted a whole month before a fresh New Year!

Georgie Girl NYC was a blog that I followed years ago and she did a post on a book advent .
I LOVED the idea and made note to remind myself in a couple years to do the same thing.
This year is the 4th year and has been the most fun because I feel like Max really looks forward to the book before bed- it's kind of "our thing". I have replaced a few books each year with more "age appropriate" books and i hope its a tradition that sticks.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

PEG BOARD ,SHMEG BOARD

The Craft Room- My Sanctuary. 
When we first moved to this house the 3rd floor was a mystery [David thought maybe a golf simulator] and then it slowly developed in to the craft room...

David,bless him was very patient and "created" whatever I thought up....one of the first things being a wrapping paper hanger....truth is- I HAVE A LOT of wrapping paper and it takes up space and honestly it's not that neat on a roll. As I worked in the space and moved things around and organized, it was evident it had to be modified. I loved my peg board and it's cheap, so why not do the rest of the wall? So we did.
I love the large bike hooks- they contain several rolls without making it look disheveled. I reconfigured a lot of the hooks and shelves and just cleaned up and organized.

It's a common joke that I spend more time organizing the craft room than actually crafting....but I don't care. I still get an overwhelming feeling of joy and creativeness in this space. I have surrounded myself with pictures and memories of people and places. Little reminders of Nana peak through all nooks and crannies..., it's a space I can be messy, a space to escape and best of all a place

to show Max that it's okay to color outside the lines-get paint under his nails-use his  imagination and most of all, a space to remember...

Tags

Cake season

Stay tuned...

Word!

I'm Bringin' Hexy Back....I'm Too Hexy for this shirt ....Let's talk about Hex Bab-y!

I am sure you are dancing around like Justin Timberlake, while humming some Salt N Peppa probably tearing your house up searching for your Right Said Fred CD right about now to relive the 90's.

I tend to have that affect on people.

To say I am a bit obsessed with hexagons and all these popular geometric patterns everywhere is an understatement! I have been a kid in a candy store at work with so many new great shapes, sizes and colors being introduced from some of our popular lines like Pratt & Larson and Oceanside Glass and the Vihara EHex from Sonoma Tilemakers. Let's not even get started on my addiction to fabric- I should not even be allowed in to a fabric store anymore, you have seen my craft room and the fabric obsession...

I decided to try out the Elongated Hex Shape in a burp cloth instead of my normal kidney shape pattern.

First... I traced out the E- Hex on drawing paper and the hubby was gracious enough to cut the pattern out of 1/4" plywood for me so I had a good solid pattern to work with.

These burp cloths were being made for a boy. I chose two fabrics that had navy blue and white. I typically either use cotton chenille or terry cloth for the backing. The cotton chenille definitely is softer and heavier but it is hard to find at local fabric stores so I typically wait until I get a coupon from fabric.com and buy several yards. I do have to say that terry cloth is easier on my machine-I think... that could also just be user error...because let's be honest here...my only sewing  "classes" were in 6th grade. The one thing I remember above all is to always back stitch once I start sewing, everything I else I am probably doing wrong...

FAKE IT TIL' YOU MAKE IT, RIGHT?

I used cotton chenille for these burp cloths.

Once cut, I pinned the outer sides together and sewed the perimeter, leaving about a 2 inch opening to flip inside out and sew Emma Pye Ribbon in 

            When I started sewing more burp cloths for friends and for people through word of mouth from friends I bought a  roll of twill fabric labels from an Etsy shop called Inked Papers  she was great to work with as I just wanted a simple "Emma Pye" to put on the burp cloths, next time I will probably order for a larger seam allowance...but for the first go,  I'm happy with how they look when sewn in. 

Not only am I obsessed with hexagons right now, I am LOVING some orange and POPS  of color so I used an orange thread to border all these bad boys and I love the way they came out!

And VOILA! the first ever E HEX Burp cloth 6 pack.

I hope you a.) feel a little smarter after reading this post or b.) at least feel like it was time better spent than reading something on the lastest Kardashian drama

Meaghan

Happy Birthday Nana!

Today you would have been 86. This picture was taken 2 years ago- it makes me laugh every time I look at it. All through dinner that evening you kept asking, "who's birthday is it?" And we kept telling you but it never sunk in... even as you were blowing out the candles you were asking... we were all in stitches and Aunt Bonnie's face says it all! It is these memories and so many more that bring a smile to my face. Even when you had no clue what was going on you managed to light up the room with your smile and laughter.

 Love you and Miss you

-Meags

TILE FO’ LIFE

I feel like I should have the phrase “tile fo life”tattooed on my knuckles-that’s how dedicated I am
I started in the tile industry 8 + years ago, before then I had worked in countertops and before that it was culinary school and event planning… I know a very random mix!  I can honestly say I love what I do everyday. I get to be creative, I get to be social and I get to work with beautiful materials.
I always hate seeing  beautiful tile samples thrown out- what a waste. I try to save as many samples as possible to either donate or use on a rainy day…
I  was lucky enough to get a larger office a few months ago…I had a huge wall that I needed to fill and artwork is expensive so I took it in to my own hands….
All in all the project cost less than $15. The only thing I purchased was some mastic. I had scrap wood that I traced basic letters on and they were about 16” in height. I painted the edges and backs of each letter with some grey paint I had left from another project. David cut the letters for me as well as routed out the picture hangers in the back. Routing out the hangers was key so the letters hung completely flush on the wall.

I traced each letter on construction paper and cut out a template. Once I figured out what tiles I was going to put where- I then transferred them to the construction paper so I could apply the mastic with a trowel  and then set the tiles in place.

PRO TIP: the construction paper templates also came in handy when I was ready to hang the finished product. I marked where the hangers were and taped them to the wall, put a level and then drilled holes through the paper.
I let the tiles set for a day and then I grouted with Mapei’s Flexcolor CQ. The grout was perfect for this project as it was premixed and I didn’t have to do anything except pop open the lid, stir and just start spreading. Because I used such a mix of tiles, there were different heights to contend with but I was able to really shape  the grout once it set a  bit more and then I just took a dry sponge and brushed the excess off.
I love the way it turned out!

And because I had more tiles to use up I made a “W-I-N-E” version for  some friends in CA

Tile On!

-Meaghan